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    Can I save my 6990m?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Xanius, Jun 7, 2014.

  1. Xanius

    Xanius Notebook Consultant

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    Hello all,

    I have a feeling my 6990m is dying and I am wondering if there is anything that I can do to save it. It has all of sudden starting artifacting and having lines come across the screen then it bsod's and reboots. It has now started to just stop with after the windows logo and sits at a black screen, but every once in a while it will go in to windows for a minute or so then artifact and bsod. I have now disabled the card in windows and am just using the integrated graphics. The bios and windows still seem to be detecting the card. I have also tried using my recovery disks and after windows is installed it bsod's.

    Thanks
     
    Xanius, Jun 7, 2014
    #1
  2. Caladdon

    Caladdon Notebook Evangelist

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    How long have you had the HD6990m?

    Have you tried updating to the latest drivers?
     
    Caladdon, Jun 8, 2014
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  3. TR2N

    TR2N Notebook Deity

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    The 6990m at 40nm fab process is notorious for cold solder joints after gaming sessions and long life.
    Best solution is an oven bake. Yes you read that right pop it in the oven.

    See guide here

    Good luck and let us know how you go :)
     
    TR2N, Jun 8, 2014
    #3
  4. Xanius

    Xanius Notebook Consultant

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    The 6990m is 2 years and 2 months old just outside of my 2 year warranty... As far as the drivers go it had 14.4 on it when this issue started. I have since tried the factory drivers using my recovery disks.
     
    Xanius, Jun 8, 2014
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  5. Xanius

    Xanius Notebook Consultant

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    I will try this later this week if there are no other options.

    Thanks
     
    Xanius, Jun 8, 2014
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  6. Xanius

    Xanius Notebook Consultant

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    So I have taken out the GPU and heat sink put the computer back together and reinstalled windows. Without the GPU the computer is running fast and flawless. Since I had already purchased a MSI GT70 to replace this computer a while ago I really do not need it. Anyone have any idea what I would be able to get for this M17x with a dead gpu if I were to sell it? The specs are in my signature.

    Thanks
     
    Xanius, Jun 8, 2014
    #6
  7. V3curonium

    V3curonium Notebook Geek

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    Revived my 6990m with the baking method. Too bad I already had bought another one. This method is a quick and easy one to do. Good luck.


    Verzonden vanaf mijn iPad met behulp van Tapatalk
     
    V3curonium, Jun 9, 2014
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  8. Xanius

    Xanius Notebook Consultant

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    I will give the baking method a try this week since I really have nothing to lose with it. Can I bake the card with the X-Bracket attached or do I need to try and pry it off?
     
    Xanius, Jun 9, 2014
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  9. Xanius

    Xanius Notebook Consultant

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    One of the small square thermal pads broke apart when I was taking it off. Any one know what the best thickness of pad I should use? Is ebay the best place to order them from? The red arrow and circle show the one that broke apart.
    903990543_770.jpg
     
    Xanius, Jun 9, 2014
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  10. V3curonium

    V3curonium Notebook Geek

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    I used a pad with 1mm thickness. I was surprised to find paste on that chip instead of a pad. Probably the previous one tampered with it already. Don't know about the bracket. Mine was attached to the heatsink


    Verzonden vanaf mijn iPad met behulp van Tapatalk
     
    V3curonium, Jun 9, 2014
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  11. Xanius

    Xanius Notebook Consultant

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    The X-Bracket is on the opposite side of the gpu card than the heat sink. It is where the 4 screws from the heat sink screw in to.
     
    Xanius, Jun 9, 2014
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  12. V3curonium

    V3curonium Notebook Geek

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    True. My bad :) I left it on then...


    Verzonden vanaf mijn iPad met behulp van Tapatalk
     
    V3curonium, Jun 9, 2014
    #12